Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Arar Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Arar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,215 in Ad Dammam versus $1,168 in Arar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,866 in Ad Dammam versus $1,788 in Arar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,516 in Ad Dammam versus $2,407 in Arar.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 4% more expensive than in Arar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Arar 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 SAR 30.39

$7.10 SAR 26.68

13.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.39 SAR 129

$35.60 SAR 134

-3.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.57 SAR 24.69

$8.47 SAR 31.81

-22.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 SAR 7.17

$1.87 SAR 7.04

2.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.37

$1.84 SAR 6.92

21.20%

Cappuccino

$3.10 SAR 11.65

$3.46 SAR 12.99

-10.40%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.79 SAR 2.95

$0.95 SAR 3.58

-16.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.27 SAR 1.01

-25.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.49 SAR 5.59

22.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 5.01

$1.10 SAR 4.13

20.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 SAR 7.21

$2.22 SAR 8.34

-13.51%

Eggs

$2.13 SAR 7.98

$2.69 SAR 10.08

-20.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.39 SAR 27.77

$6.50 SAR 24.41

13.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 SAR 29.36

$7.19 SAR 27.01

8.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 SAR 47.79

$14.11 SAR 53.0

-9.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.17

$2.35 SAR 8.82

-7.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.78 SAR 6.70

-8.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.36 SAR 5.12

16.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.77 SAR 6.66

-8.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 SAR 4.02

$1.02 SAR 3.84

4.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.52

$1.38 SAR 5.20

-13.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.22 SAR 4.60

4.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.18

$0.49 SAR 1.85

18.37%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.09 SAR 15.37

$2.89 SAR 10.86

41.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SAR 5.46

$1.61 SAR 6.04

-9.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$2.17 SAR 8.13

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.80 SAR 29.30

$7.16 SAR 26.89

8.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

$0.98 SAR 3.69

-1.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 SAR 135

$38.62 SAR 145

-7.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.75

$2.51 SAR 9.42

3.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$1.91 SAR 7.18

36.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.41 SAR 50.4

$12.16 SAR 45.65

10.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$0.64 SAR 2.40

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

$51.2K SAR 192.2K

32.25%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

$19.5K SAR 73.3K

9.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$128 SAR 482

$115 SAR 432

11.44%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$33.46 SAR 126

$30.25 SAR 114

10.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 SAR 233

$75.5 SAR 284

-17.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 SAR 292

$94.3 SAR 354

-17.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.85 SAR 108

$37.93 SAR 142

-23.94%

Cinema Ticket

$13.40 SAR 50.3

$11.89 SAR 44.67

12.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$417 SAR 1,566

$304 SAR 1,140

37.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

$5,917 SAR 22.2K

32.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.40 SAR 155

$51.2 SAR 192

-19.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.15 SAR 185

$57.9 SAR 217

-15.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 SAR 360

$82.1 SAR 308

16.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 SAR 340

$101 SAR 379

-10.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 SAR 2,128

$608 SAR 2,283

-6.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,388

$314 SAR 1,181

17.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,007 SAR 3,781

$791 SAR 2,972

27.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 SAR 2,490

$591 SAR 2,220

12.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,379 SAR 5,179

$2,125 SAR 7,979

-35.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$595 SAR 2,235

$1,306 SAR 4,905

-54.44%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,532 SAR 5,754

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.47

7.86%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026

Last update for Arar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $567 in Ad Dammam and $608 in Arar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Ad Dammam vs $36.00 in Arar. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $197, with Arar cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Ad Dammam vs Arar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arar wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Arar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,823 in Ad Dammam and $1,752 in Arar to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $567 in Ad Dammam versus $608 in Arar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,215 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,168 in Arar – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arar runs roughly 8% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,168 in Arar versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arar but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Arar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Arar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Arar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.